Ebola outbreak Congo: 419 cases as deadly disease SPREADS
EBOLA cases have surged to 419 as the Democratic Republic of Congo battles to control the deadly disease with the launch of a new experimental drug trial as 10 people die in a week from the most deadly outbreak in the DRC’s history.
By CARLY READ
Express.co.uk
Tue, Nov 27, 2018
Last weekend, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported a further 33 cases of the highly contagious disease, bringing the total number to 419. The World Health Organisation (WHO) identified three major ebola “red zones” as Kalunguta, Katwa and Beni – all of which located in the north east of the Congo. The WHO also warned the ebola situation in the DRC remains complex and challenging, adding it was confident its partners in the area could successfully control it. And in a chilling turn, the WHO warned health centres have been identified as unknowingly spreading the disease even more through the administration of medications and injections.
The finding followed a flurry of 39 new infections in healthcare workers.
Up to 36 cases were confirmed to have been reported between November 14 to 20, with seven being babies and six children between the ages of two and 17.
One incident was of a pregnant woman being infected.
Of the 36, ten are dead.
The new numbers come as the country’s health officials announced the launch of a clinical drug trial they hope will treat the disease, which is not administered through injections.
The medication on offer is Zmapp, mAb114, and remdesivir, which are antibody treatments that showed promise in earlier tests.
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